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A major police operation is under way to find four children who have been missing from their home near Ardee in Co Louth since Thursday.

Gardaí believe Chloe, Jessica, Jon and Megan Eaton are travelling in the company of 30-year-old Steven Appleton and say they are very concerned about their welfare.

Mr Appleton, who is originally from Sussex, has dark curly hair and blue eyes.

He was a friend of the Eaton family, who are also from the UK, and had been asked by their mother to look after her four children while she was in hospital, including moving them if social workers called.

However, the four children who are aged between one and 12 years have since disappeared.

Gardaí believe they are travelling with Mr Appleton in an English registered silver Vauxhall Zafira, registration number DY08 JYF.

It is believed another adult woman and her two children may also be in their company and they may have gone to Northern Ireland and possibly onto Britain.

Interpol as well as gardaí, the PSNI and police in Britain are now searching for them.

Gardaí at Ardee, Co Louth, are seeking the public’s help to find four missing children.

Chloe Eaton (12), Jessica Eaton (10), Jon Eaton (5) and Megan Eaton (1) were last seen at their home at Tullykeel, Ardee, Co Louth, on Thursday, March 10th.

Gardaí believe the children are with a 30-year-old man and an adult woman. There is also the likliehood there are two other young children with the group who are not subjects of a missing persons appeal.

The man has use of an English-registered silver coloured Opel Zafira. It is possible the children are now in the North, and gardaí said they are liaising with the PSNI on the case.

Anyone with information is asked to contact gardaí at Ardee on 041-6871130.

Chloe Eaton, 12, and her siblings Jessica, 10, Jon, five, and Megan, one, are believed to be in the company of the man, who had been minding them at their rented home in Ardee, Co Louth, while their mother was in hospital.

He had been in Ireland for two months and was living with the family, but is not their father.

He disappeared with another woman and her two children.

A Garda spokesman said: “Gardai are renewing their appeal for assistance from the public with regards to these missing children.

“We have concerns for their welfare.”

The children were last seen at their home at Tullykeel on Thursday and police think they may be in Northern Ireland.